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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
scientific method
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general plan based on methodical observations and experiments.
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topography
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the general configuration of varying heights that gives shape to Earth's surface.
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principle of uniformitarianism
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the principle that the geologic processes we see in action today have worked in much the same way throughout geological time; that is "the present is the key to the past".
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seismic waves
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a ground vibration produced by earthquakes or explosions.
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core
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central part of the Earth below depth of 2900 km, comprising of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core; composed of iron and nickel, with minor amounts of some lighter element, such as oxygen or sulfur.
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mantle
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region that forms the main bulk of solid earth, between the crust and the core, ranging from depths of about 40 km to 2900 km. It is composed of rocks of intermediate density, mostly compounds of oxygen with magnesium, iron, and silicon.
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crust
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thin outer layer of earth, averaging 8 km thick under the oceans to about 40 km thick under continents, consisting of relatively light materials that melt at low temperatures.
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inner core
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central part of the earth from a depth of 5150 to 6370 km, composed of iron and nickel. solid metallic sphere with a radius of 1220 km- about 2/3 the size of the moon- suspended within the liquid outer core.
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outer core
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a liquid zone- composed of iron, nickel, and minor amounts of some lighter element, such as oxygen or sulfur- below the mantle from a depth of 2890 to 5190 km, that surrounds a solid iron-nickel inner core.
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earth system
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all the parts of our planet and all their interactions, taken together.
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geosystems
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a specialized subsystem of the earth system that encompasses specific types of terrestrial behavior.
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climate system
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geosystem that includes all parts of the earth system and all the interactions among these components needed to describe how climate behaves in space and time.
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lithosphere
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strong, rigid outer shell of the earth that encases the asthenosphere and contains the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle down to an average depth of about 100 km and forms the rigid plates.
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asthenosphere
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the weak layer of soft but solid rock comprising the lower part of the upper mantle and over which the plates slide.
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plate tectonic system
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geosystem that includes all parts of the earth system and all the interactions among these components needed to describe how plate tectonics works in space and time.
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magnetic field
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the region of influence of a magnetized body or an electric current.
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geodynamo
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the geosystem that sustains Earth's magnetic field, driven by convection in the outer core.
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fossils
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trace of an organism of past geologic ages that has been preserved in the crust.
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